Monday, February 8, 2010

The sun broke out of the grey this weekend. Suddenly I was seeing opportunities to capture a moment of light with my camera. You truly know it's been awhile without sunshine when you stop what you're doing and turn towards the window. This quilt is the result of my first paper-piecing class a couple of years ago. Very soft colors, not much contrast. I'm still learning contrast.

Just love how the crabapple tree reflects on the curtains in my dining room, almost like it was painted on.

The sun illuminated the Faith sign on it's own. I'm sure there is a metaphor we could find in this.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

It is a frigid 23 degrees here today. The kind of cold that makes you catch your breath because your body is in a state of shock. But the sun is shining and that is a huge blessing after days and days of gray skies. So, I'm firing up this little beauty I purchased at Sur La Table last weekend while on my ladies retreat. I've never owned a tea kettle and like the cheery whistle that it makes. Could not pass up the pink for sure. Here are some other items I did not buy but loved:

Friday, February 5, 2010

I had a successful day yesterday, I finished both t-shirt quilts and got them off to the quilter. All the journal covers are made, whoo whee, I'm a bit tired today. I'm itching for a new project and I thought if I showed you my tiny laundry room you might talk me out of redoing it and if I saw the pictures, I might think twice too. I found the picket fence on one of my flea market trips, loved how it gave that space above the window some texture.

When we moved in almost seven years ago, I took down the dark cabinets from the walls and put the white shelving up. Then I went about filling it with laundry and garden goodies as well as a little kittie that followed me home.

The dryer sits right below this shelf. I can't decide if I need to go lighter in paint color, maybe a pretty blue? My family has vetoed yellow since we have a lot of it. Yellow says happy to me, that's why I immediately go there.

My friend, Diane, found this needlework picture for $2.00. So glad she asked me if I wanted it. Someone worked on it for a long time. I just love it.

My garden angel has followed me through the last few moves. She's starting to look a little worn out, bless her heart. I just don't know. Do I redo or leave as is? I certainly have enough quilting UFO's to last me a few years months. Tell me what you would like to redo in your home?

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Tomorrow is my deadline to take two quilts to the quilter. I got a little side-tracked and started making journal covers for my daughter and her friends who are having a retreat with their Bible Study group. I just love these girls and the positive influence they are on my daughter. Best of all, God has blessed them with two wonderful leaders Joyce (I love pretty little things) and Kelly who are two of my dear friends. They have been doing a study called "And Bride Wore White".

I used fabric from my stash as well as vintage crochet trim, buttons and some crocheted crosses that my Mom had made for me years ago. I really did enjoy this project and I'm having fun putting together little goodie bags for them.

So, I'm off to do some mad, crazy, sewing at record speed, quilting. I don't know why I do this to myself but somehow I think I'm a bit more creative when I'm on a deadline. Asking God to give you showers of blessings today.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

I enjoy putting the unexpected into my everyday things, adding a little beauty to the routine. So I sew pretty fabric on plain kitchen towels, use pretty old tea cups as scoops in my flour and sugar, keep my onions and potatoes in a vintage bread box, store jewelry in porcelain bowls and mouth wash in crystal decanters, to name a few. When I saw this ironing board cover in the Moda Bake Shop, I knew this would soon be my new sewing project. The patterns on this site are free and downloadable. It seems to happen every couple of years that my cover becomes stained with starch and grime of some sort. I even noticed that my ironing board seems to be a bit warped all of a sudden. So before I can make this cute cover I have to get a new ironing board. I was hoping you could tell me a good brand or style of ironing board for a quilter?

My friend, Sally, wants to know if anyone knows where she can purchase clean bulk buckwheat for sachet making?

Monday, February 1, 2010

My ladies retreat was so much fun and they loved the scarves! What a joy it was to make all these beautiful women smile. Joyce (I love pretty little things) and Debbie from my post "Apron Love" look fabulous in them! I apologize for the blurry pic, I'm still learning the ropes here. I hope all of you hug your friends today and make them smile!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

My friend Debbie made me this cute apron for my birthday. I have known her for six years and didn't have a clue that she could sew. I don't think her machine will be quiet for long, all her friends are asking for one now. I think it would look cute as a dress if I could get her to put a back on it. Tee hee...

Friday, January 29, 2010

Today I leave town for the weekend for a girlfriends retreat with nine ladies. I spent a couple days this week making each one of them a scarf. It was a fun way to use up lots of fabric scraps in my stash.

It all started with the scripture fabric which determined the width of the scarf and then I used varying sizes of coordinating materials. I decided to make them long enough to do the "through the loop" method. I hope they like them. Have a blessed Friday!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

We got blasted with snow yesterday and overnight. My daughter was hoping for a snow day so she wouldn't have to take her last final. No such luck. Almost needed to be picked up by snowmobile but somehow I got her there this morning. I have got to finish t-shirt quilts for customers, but keep getting distracted by these little chicks. Lea, over at Farmhouse Blessings, got me hooked when I saw her little chickies. She really shouldn't have told me the name of the pattern because now I can't stop and by the looks of the picture, I've got plenty to make. I'm thinking that I want to use some of my Celebration fabric from Little Acorns. But Brenda, I can't seem to make myself cut into it, it's too beautiful. I honestly pick it up, take my scissors, and put it back down. Am I fabric obsessed or what? Is there any fabric that you just can't bring yourself to cut into?

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Thank you for all your support and prayers for Max and praise the Lord! for answered prayer. Max passed the sock this morning and the x-rays were clear! I could've wept in the vet's office. You've never seen a happier person than I, digging through the snow and poop to recover that sock. He's acting a little sheepish today, I think he's wondering what all the fuss was about. What a relief!!

I opened my mailbox to find this magazine. I nearly dropped over. I'm certain I looked like a complete fool jumping for joy in the road. I LOVE CATH KIDSTON. I have no idea why I received this except that I placed an order with her online and must be on her mailing list now. Be warned that you should make sure you understand the pound conversion rate before ordering. I thought I had it figured out and didn't factor in the expensive shipping costs. I paid double the price of the item, but honestly, it was almost worth it. Her packaging is so stinkin' cute that you don't even have to open it to appreciate what's inside.

I don't know why American stores stopped carrying her things. I've been able to find a few items on Amazon. Her designs just speak a language clear as a bell to me.

It's probably best that I can't get my hands on this fabric without selling a kidney, otherwise my entire house would be covered in chintz. Tell me what designers knock your socks off?

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Today was an interesting day, to say the least. I don't know how many of you have Goldens, but for those of you who don't, they like to eat things. We are pretty good at keeping him out of things but when winter sets in and stays for awhile, Max gets bored and starts looking for trouble. He is happy in this photo I snapped in the fall, but today he was pretty miserable. For two days he hasn't been able to keep anything down and at one point threw up a sock. After 24 hrs. of not eating or going out. I took him to the vet. The long and the short of it is if he doesn't throw up what's still in his stomach by tomorrow morning, he is going into surgery.

About six years ago we had a similar situation with our other Golden, Casey. She managed to eat a nerf football. It cost us $1200 to have it removed. Now, you know where I'm going with this. I love my dogs. $1200 is a lot of money. I know I don't have a choice, but $1200 is a lot of money. I'm praying that between now and the x-ray at 8:30 am, God will let whatever is in there come out. I'm feeling very selfish. Max has barely moved since he's been home. I'm going away for the weekend and $1200 is a lot of money. Is it wrong to ask you to pray for a dog?

Thank you Lord for the animals you've given us to care for, forgive my selfish heart...

Monday, January 25, 2010

This little cutie comes from Anthropologie. Isn't it darling? I cannot crochet, I have tried, but I just can't get it. Of all the things I like to do, crochet just doesn't come easy. My dear friend, Joyce, and I took a class together and we did pretty well, but we just like to sew and knit better. I look at Alicia Paulson's blog and all her pretty crochet and ooh and ahh, but that's as far as it goes. One of my goal's this year is to stick to what I do best, and learn something new in that area. What about you, is there any craft you've given up for something else?

I want to let you know of a new blog authored by my friend, Joyce. It's called "I love pretty little things." You can find it here. It is such a treat and I'm hoping you will join me in welcoming her to the blogosphere.